Education is one of the key issues of the election campaign. Here's what candidates from the three main parties had to say about education issues affecting Teesside.

Ashok Kumar>, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "A first class future for our children and a good future for our country depends on good schools and a first class education.

"We have been fortunate in our area in the high calibre and dedication of our schools, our pupils and of our teachers, and I want to build on that success."

James Gaddas>, Conservative candidate for Stockton South, said: "All parents must have the right to choose the school that they feel is best for their child.

"Good schools must be allowed to expand to cater for the education we want for our children.

"Equally, we would allow the creation of schools run by a variety of providers including faith groups, parents, and private companies. And teachers must be able to run their schools."

Ian Swales>, Liberal Democrat candidate for Redcar, said: "We will extend free part-time early education places for three and four year-olds and offer wrap-around care to all school-age children by opening schools from 8am to 6pm.

"A significant number of young people are reaching the age of 14 unable to read or calculate effectively. Teachers should be allowed to spend their time actually teaching."

City Academies>

Ashok Kumar> said: "Nationally the city academy movement will continue with over 200 new academies planned for the future."

James Gaddas> said: "The Commons Education Committee said the Government's #5bn programme for rolling out more academies lacked coherence, had not been properly evaluated, and should be halted until the existing academies - which are among the schools with the worst tests results for 14 year olds - are shown to be cost-effective."

Ian Swales>: "There is no evidence that these academies produce better results when all factors are taken into account. In their desperation to appear better they have subtle ways of selecting pupils at the outset and then exclude a higher proportion later."

School closures and amalgamations>

Ashok Kumar> said: "The demographic decline in the number of children presents a challenge because many parents do not want to see disruption to their children's education, but an opportunity too, as an amalgamation can often bring new leadership to a school and also improvements to the school building and curriculum."

James Gaddas> said: "Under our Right to Choose scheme, the money following pupils, would allow those parents worried about school closures to keep them open."

Ian Swales> said: "We should do everything we can to keep local schools going. We need more economic development to keep more young people in the area which, in turn, will increase school numbers."

University tuition and top-up fees>

Ashok Kumar> said: "The chance of progressing from college to university has been radically improved with a huge national increase in the numbers going on to higher education."

James Gaddas> said: "We will retain grants for poorer students, and the same threshold for repayment of loans as Labour, but abolish all fees and end means testing for access to loans."

Ian Swales> said: "Funded from our new 50pc rate on incomes over #100,000, Liberal Democrats will abolish all tuition fees. No one should be deterred from the chance of a university education because of the fear of debt."

School dinners>

Ashok Kumar> said: "The Government has announced a new multi-million pound cash injection into school meal standards. It will be backed by the setting up of an independent Schools Food Trust, and a future Labour Government will ban foods high in salt and fat from school menus."

James Gaddas> said: "We must find a way to increase the budget allowed for meals. Equally, it's important that we try to carry that into our homes, for parents and children alike."

Ian Swales> said: "To improve children's health, on top of plans to increase funding for school meals we will introduce minimum nutrition standards for school meals."

Raising Standards>

Ashok Kumar> said: "We intend to stretch all pupils to their utmost.

"In secondary schools we will be rigorously testing all pupil progress on a regular basis."

James Gaddas> said: "All the policy in the world doesn't change the simple fact that we all want the very best for our children.

"I feel that a worrying move towards central control, one size fits all schooling, and ever increasing question marks over the value of core subjects, is damaging."

Ian Swales> said: "The GCSE system is not working. We support the Tomlinson report's proposal for a diploma-based system.

"All young people need to be engaged in high quality vocational education as part of their 14-19 studies."